Vandalised cars in Stenhousemuir street

Herald Reporter

Angry Paul Sharp exacted revenge on neighbours he had fallen out with by targeting their cars.

The 30-year-old caused £1000 worth of damage to the ‘his and hers’ motors parked outside their home.

At Falkirk Sheriff Court on February 25 the jobless hooligan was placed on a supervised community payback order for 18 months, told to pay the car owners £1000 compensation and complete 30 hours unpaid work in three months for the vandalism attack in January 2015.

Defence lawyer Stephen Biggam claimed: “He felt something had been done to him by them and retaliated by damaging their cars. He now appreciates it should not have happened and is willing to pay for the damage.”

At an earlier appearance, Sharp, from 16 Cedar Grove, Stenhousemuir, had admitted wilfully or recklessly damaging the vehicles in Lamond View, Stenhousemuir, by repeatedly striking them with a metal implement. He also pled guilty to a drink-driving offence committed months later.

The court heard that at around 2.20am on April 10, 2015, police had pulled him over on Stirling Road, Larbert, for a routine check.

When he got out of his vehicle he told the officers: “You have got me bang to rights.”

Tests later showed he was over twice the legal limit with 56 microgramme of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath and driving without insurance and a valid licence.

Mr Biggam said: “That about sums that up.”

Before Sheriff Linda Smith passed sentence, Mr Biggam asked her to consider a letter from a local roofing company willing to give Sharp a job.

He said: “There is an opportunity for him to work and earn around £250 a week. That will give him money to pay compensation, but still mean he is available for unpaid work.”

After reading the ‘reference’, Sheriff Smith disqualified Sharp from driving for 18 months and imposed a second community payback order, this one to include 70 hours unpaid work which has also to be done within three months.

She also told him to make himself available for alcohol and drug counselling, pay the compensation at the rate of £100 a month and do the unpaid work at the weekends.

Ordering him back to court on March 24 so that his progress with the orders can be reviewed, she warned him: “Take advantage of the counselling and stay out of trouble.”